Our People of the Century Nello Dallolio: Poultry Clan Coach Turned Team into Powerhouse

On fall Saturdays in the 1930s, '40s and again the late 1950s, high school football ruled in Vineland.

And its king was Nello Dallolio.

Vineland's football program, dating to 1886, was in its heyday during Dallolio's era.

Hired in 1935, he turned Vineland into a powerhouse, coaching the Poultry Clan to South Jersey championships in each of his first five seasons. His most famous team was the 1939 squad, which went 9-0 and outscore opponents 262-9.

Thousands would pack Gitone Stadium to watch the Poultry Clan take on rivals such as Millville, Atlantic City and Bridgeton. For 20 seasons, Dallolio was on the sidelines preaching and coaching the game he loved.

"The man lived and ate football," said Tony DiTomo, a star on the 1939 team. "He made ballplayers out of people," said Jay Luisi, a star on the Clan's 1955 team. "he was hard on you, but you were better for it."

Dallolio, who also coached baseball for more than 30 years, served two tours as coach of the Poultry Clan. After his first 11 seasons, he moved on to coach at Glassboro State Teachers College -- now Rowan University.

When he returned in 1955, it was like he never left, leading Vineland to a 9-0 record, including an upset of Millville, snapping the Bolt's then South Jersey record 31-game streak.

Dallolio passed away in 1983, but his career record at Vineland remains unmatched -- 121 wins, 41 losses and 17 ties with 10 sectional titles.